NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-27-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: December 27, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. New York Governor Kathy Hokel says utility crews are on standby because of that major snowstorm slamming the region. We are very aggressive about deploying utility crews even before a storm hits. So they're pre-positioned, and if they need to activate, they can make sure that we get the power on as soon as you can be possible. Hockel and the governor of New Jersey have declared states of emergency, warning of treacherous road. conditions. The National Weather Service has posted ice and winter storm warning, saying some of the heaviest snow will fall in Long Island in the Hudson Valley. Flight cancellations and delays are mounting. The flight tracking website, Flight Aware, says more than 800 flights

have been canceled so far today in the U.S., and there are hundreds of delays. In rain-drenched to Southern California, there were more downpours on the day after Christmas, but the intensity of the storms is diminishing. Steve Utterman reports. The storms may be less intense, but with the ground and hillsides already waterlogged, it didn't take much to cause new flooding along with more mudslides and rock slides. Some intersections again filled with water and became hard to drive through. In a few areas, there are still power outages. The next few days should bring some relief. Yeah, we're definitely improving. Dave Gomberg is with the National Weather Service.

We'll start to see the shower activity. start to decrease in coverage and intensity. This has been one of the wettest Christmas weeks ever. Some areas have received more than 15 inches of rain. There have been several deaths. One of the hardest hit areas has been the small mountain town of Ritewood, where many homes suffered extensive damage. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. Ukraine's capital came under another Russian missile and drone attack overnight. Explosions are reported to have rock key for hours ahead of tomorrow's meeting in Florida between President Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

350 National Guard troops will be mobilized to New Orleans through the end of February to provide extra security during major events. In a statement, the Defense Department has confirmed that the federally funded troops, including some now stationed in Washington, D.C., will deploy to support law enforcement efforts for New Year's, the Sugar Bowl, and Mardi Gras, Mel Bridges, with member Station, WNO reports. A spokesperson for the Louisiana National Guard confirmed deployment should start around the 30th. This comes after New Orleans safety officials requested more federal presence

in the city during those events, citing the terror attacks on New Year's Day and an alleged terrorist plot that authorities say was recently thwarted. Governor Jeff Landry had also previously requested 1,000 federally funded troops to New Orleans in September. This is separate from the federal immigration sweep currently happening in southeastern Louisiana. For NPR News. I'm Mel Bridges. And you're listening to NPR News. A second ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia is now in effect. Clashes in a long-running border dispute reignited earlier this month after a ceasefire that President Trump helped to negotiate broke down. This latest ceasefire halts military movements and airspace violations and includes a repatriation of 18 Cambodian

soldiers held by Thailand if the ceasefire is not broken for 72 hours. In Japan, a massive pile-up and snowy weather has killed two people and injured more than two dozen others. Police say the pile-up on an expressway northwest of Tokyo involved more than 50 vehicles. Authorities say it started with a collision between two trucks. Basketball fans tend to skew younger and more diverse and those of other major league sports. And now the NBA hopes to attract more women by working with online creation. with predominantly a female following, as NPR's Netta Ulibe reports.

The nail artist Vivian Zhu Rehi promotes the National Basketball Association on her social media feed. She shows off hand-painted portraits of players that are literally thumbnail-sized. I grew up in L.A. and now live in the Bay Area. The Lakers and the Warriors are simply my teens. But I will say I am just a basketball fan in general. Major League sports have noticed what's been called the Taylor Swift effect in bringing female fans to football. Now the NBA is courting female fans with other online collaborations, including with a popular rugmaker and a food artist who uses fried rice as her medium.

Netta Ulippi, NPR News. And I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of and visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.